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Vélez A, Sandoval SM. Size matters: individual variation in auditory sensitivity may influence sexual selection in Pacific treefrogs (Pseudacris regilla). J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2024; 210:771-784. [PMID: 38367051 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-024-01690-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
The matched filter hypothesis proposes a close match between senders and receivers and is supported by several studies on variation in signal properties and sensory-processing mechanisms among species and populations. Importantly, within populations, individual variation in sensory processing may affect how receivers perceive signals. Our main goals were to characterize hearing sensitivity of Pacific treefrogs (Pseudacris regilla), assess patterns of individual variation in hearing sensitivity, and evaluate how among-individual variation in hearing sensitivity and call frequency content affect auditory processing of communication signals. Overall, males and females are most sensitive to frequencies between 2.0 and 2.5 kHz, which matches the dominant frequency of the call, and have a second region of high sensitivity between 400 and 800 Hz that does not match the fundamental frequency of the call. We found high levels of among-individual variation in hearing sensitivity, primarily driven by subject size. Importantly, patterns of among-individual variation in hearing differ between males and females. Cross-correlation analyses reveal that among-individual variation in hearing sensitivity may lead to differences on how receivers, particularly females, perceive male calls. Our results suggest that individual variation in sensory processing may affect signal perception and influence the evolution of sexually selected traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Vélez
- Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA.
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94132, USA.
| | - Sam Moreno Sandoval
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94132, USA
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2
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Tennessen JB, Holt MM, Wright BM, Hanson MB, Emmons CK, Giles DA, Hogan JT, Thornton SJ, Deecke VB. Males miss and females forgo: Auditory masking from vessel noise impairs foraging efficiency and success in killer whales. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17490. [PMID: 39254237 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/07/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024]
Abstract
Understanding how the environment mediates an organism's ability to meet basic survival requirements is a fundamental goal of ecology. Vessel noise is a global threat to marine ecosystems and is increasing in intensity and spatiotemporal extent due to growth in shipping coupled with physical changes to ocean soundscapes from ocean warming and acidification. Odontocetes rely on biosonar to forage, yet determining the consequences of vessel noise on foraging has been limited by the challenges of observing underwater foraging outcomes and measuring noise levels received by individuals. To address these challenges, we leveraged a unique acoustic and movement dataset from 25 animal-borne biologging tags temporarily attached to individuals from two populations of fish-eating killer whales (Orcinus orca) in highly transited coastal waters to (1) test for the effects of vessel noise on foraging behaviors-searching (slow-click echolocation), pursuit (buzzes), and capture and (2) investigate the mechanism of interference. For every 1 dB increase in maximum noise level, there was a 4% increase in the odds of searching for prey by both sexes, a 58% decrease in the odds of pursuit by females and a 12.5% decrease in the odds of prey capture by both sexes. Moreover, all but one deep (≥75 m) foraging attempt with noise ≥110 dB re 1 μPa (15-45 kHz band; n = 6 dives by n = 4 whales) resulted in failed prey capture. These responses are consistent with an auditory masking mechanism. Our findings demonstrate the effects of vessel noise across multiple phases of odontocete foraging, underscoring the importance of managing anthropogenic inputs into soundscapes to achieve conservation objectives for acoustically sensitive species. While the timescales for recovering depleted prey species may span decades, these findings suggest that complementary actions to reduce ocean noise in the short term offer a critical pathway for recovering odontocete foraging opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer B Tennessen
- Center for Ecosystem Sentinels, Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Marla M Holt
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Brianna M Wright
- Pacific Biological Station, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
| | - M Bradley Hanson
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Candice K Emmons
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | | | - Sheila J Thornton
- Pacific Science Enterprise Centre, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Volker B Deecke
- Institute of Science and Environment, University of Cumbria, Ambleside, Cumbria, UK
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3
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Abildtrup Nielsen N, Dawson SM, Torres Ortiz S, Wahlberg M, Martin MJ. Hector's dolphins (Cephalorhynchus hectori) produce both narrowband high-frequency and broadband acoustic signals. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2024; 155:1437-1450. [PMID: 38364047 DOI: 10.1121/10.0024820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Odontocetes produce clicks for echolocation and communication. Most odontocetes are thought to produce either broadband (BB) or narrowband high-frequency (NBHF) clicks. Here, we show that the click repertoire of Hector's dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori) comprises highly stereotypical NBHF clicks and far more variable broadband clicks, with some that are intermediate between these two categories. Both NBHF and broadband clicks were made in trains, buzzes, and burst-pulses. Most clicks within click trains were typical NBHF clicks, which had a median centroid frequency of 130.3 kHz (median -10 dB bandwidth = 29.8 kHz). Some, however, while having only marginally lower centroid frequency (median = 123.8 kHz), had significant energy below 100 kHz and approximately double the bandwidth (median -10 dB bandwidth = 69.8 kHz); we refer to these as broadband. Broadband clicks in buzzes and burst-pulses had lower median centroid frequencies (120.7 and 121.8 kHz, respectively) compared to NBHF buzzes and burst-pulses (129.5 and 130.3 kHz, respectively). Source levels of NBHF clicks, estimated by using a drone to measure ranges from a single hydrophone and by computing time-of-arrival differences at a vertical hydrophone array, ranged from 116 to 171 dB re 1 μPa at 1 m, whereas source levels of broadband clicks, obtained from array data only, ranged from 138 to 184 dB re 1 μPa at 1 m. Our findings challenge the grouping of toothed whales as either NBHF or broadband species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicoline Abildtrup Nielsen
- Marine Biological Research Center, Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, 5300 Kerteminde, Denmark
| | - Stephen M Dawson
- Department of Marine Science, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Sara Torres Ortiz
- Marine Biological Research Center, Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, 5300 Kerteminde, Denmark
| | - Magnus Wahlberg
- Marine Biological Research Center, Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, 5300 Kerteminde, Denmark
| | - Morgan J Martin
- Center for Marine Acoustics, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Sterling, Virginia 20166, USA
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4
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Mulsow J, Finneran JJ, Strahan MG, Houser DS, Burkard RF. Input compensation of dolphin and sea lion auditory brainstem responses using frequency-modulated up-chirps. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 154:739-750. [PMID: 37556567 DOI: 10.1121/10.0020566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Frequency-modulated "chirp" stimuli that offset cochlear dispersion (i.e., input compensation) have shown promise for increasing auditory brainstem response (ABR) amplitudes relative to traditional sound stimuli. To enhance ABR methods with marine mammal species known or suspected to have low ABR signal-to-noise ratios, the present study examined the effects of broadband chirp sweep rate and level on ABR amplitude in bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions. "Optimal" chirps were designed based on previous estimates of cochlear traveling wave speeds (using high-pass subtractive masking methods) in these species. Optimal chirps increased ABR peak amplitudes by compensating for cochlear dispersion; however, chirps with similar (or higher) frequency-modulation rates produced comparable results. The optimal chirps generally increased ABR amplitudes relative to noisebursts as threshold was approached, although this was more obvious when sound pressure level was used to equate stimulus levels (as opposed to total energy). Chirps provided progressively less ABR amplitude gain (relative to noisebursts) as stimulus level increased and produced smaller ABRs at the highest levels tested in dolphins. Although it was previously hypothesized that chirps would provide larger gains in sea lions than dolphins-due to the lower traveling wave speed in the former-no such pattern was observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Mulsow
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, 2240 Shelter Island Drive #200, San Diego, California 92106, USA
| | - James J Finneran
- U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program, Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific Code 56710, 53560 Hull Street, San Diego, California 92152, USA
| | - Madelyn G Strahan
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, 2240 Shelter Island Drive #200, San Diego, California 92106, USA
| | - Dorian S Houser
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, 2240 Shelter Island Drive #200, San Diego, California 92106, USA
| | - Robert F Burkard
- Department of Rehabilitation Science, University at Buffalo, 626 Kimball Tower, Buffalo, New York 14214, USA
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5
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Tang H, Zhang S, Tian Y, Kang T, Zhou C, Yang S, Liu Y, Liu X, Chen Q, Xiao H, Chen W, Zang J. Bioinspired Soft Elastic Metamaterials for Reconstruction of Natural Hearing. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2207273. [PMID: 37114826 PMCID: PMC10369269 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202207273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Natural hearing which means hearing naturally like normal people is critical for patients with hearing loss to participate in life. Cochlear implants have enabled numerous severe hearing loss patients to hear voice functionally, while cochlear implant users can hardly distinguish different tones or appreciate music subject to the absence of rate coding and insufficient frequency channels. Here a bioinspired soft elastic metamaterial that reproduces the shape and key functions of the human cochlea is reported. Inspired by human cochlea, the metamaterials are designed to possess graded microstructures with high effective refractive index distributed on a spiral shape to implement position-related frequency demultiplexing, passive sound enhancements of 10 times, and high-speed parallel processing of 168-channel sound/piezoelectric signals. Besides, it is demonstrated that natural hearing artificial cochlea has fine frequency resolution up to 30 Hz, a wide audible range from 150-12 000 Hz, and a considerable output voltage that can activate the auditory pathway in mice. This work blazes a promising trail for reconstruction of natural hearing in patients with severe hearing loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanchuan Tang
- School of Integrated Circuits and Wuhan National Laboratory for OptoelectronicsHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430074China
| | - Shujie Zhang
- College of Life Science and TechnologyHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430074China
| | - Ye Tian
- School of Integrated Circuits and Wuhan National Laboratory for OptoelectronicsHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430074China
| | - Tianyu Kang
- School of Integrated Circuits and Wuhan National Laboratory for OptoelectronicsHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430074China
| | - Cheng Zhou
- School of Integrated Circuits and Wuhan National Laboratory for OptoelectronicsHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430074China
| | - Shuaikang Yang
- School of Integrated Circuits and Wuhan National Laboratory for OptoelectronicsHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430074China
| | - Ying Liu
- School of Integrated Circuits and Wuhan National Laboratory for OptoelectronicsHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430074China
| | - Xurui Liu
- School of Integrated Circuits and Wuhan National Laboratory for OptoelectronicsHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430074China
| | - Qicai Chen
- School of Life SciencesCentral China Normal UniversityWuhan430074China
| | - Hongjun Xiao
- Department of OtorhinolaryngologyUnion HospitalTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430022China
| | - Wei Chen
- College of Life Science and TechnologyHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430074China
| | - Jianfeng Zang
- School of Integrated Circuits and Wuhan National Laboratory for OptoelectronicsHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430074China
- The State Key Laboratory of Digital Manufacturing Equipment and TechnologyHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430074China
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6
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Winship KA, Jones BL. Acoustic Monitoring of Professionally Managed Marine Mammals for Health and Welfare Insights. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2124. [PMID: 37443922 DOI: 10.3390/ani13132124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Research evaluating marine mammal welfare and opportunities for advancements in the care of species housed in a professional facility have rapidly increased in the past decade. While topics, such as comfortable housing, adequate social opportunities, stimulating enrichment, and a high standard of medical care, have continued to receive attention from managers and scientists, there is a lack of established acoustic consideration for monitoring the welfare of these animals. Marine mammals rely on sound production and reception for navigation and communication. Regulations governing anthropogenic sound production in our oceans have been put in place by many countries around the world, largely based on the results of research with managed and trained animals, due to the potential negative impacts that unrestricted noise can have on marine mammals. However, there has not been an established best practice for the acoustic welfare monitoring of marine mammals in professional care. By monitoring animal hearing and vocal behavior, a more holistic view of animal welfare can be achieved through the early detection of anthropogenic sound sources, the acoustic behavior of the animals, and even the features of the calls. In this review, the practice of monitoring cetacean acoustic welfare through behavioral hearing tests and auditory evoked potentials (AEPs), passive acoustic monitoring, such as the Welfare Acoustic Monitoring System (WAMS), as well as ideas for using advanced technologies for utilizing vocal biomarkers of health are introduced and reviewed as opportunities for integration into marine mammal welfare plans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelley A Winship
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, 2240 Shelter Island Dr., Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92106, USA
| | - Brittany L Jones
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, 2240 Shelter Island Dr., Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92106, USA
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7
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Zhao L, Giorli G, Caruso F, Dong L, Gong Z, Lin M, Li S. Echolocation clicks of free-ranging Indo-Pacific finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides) in Hainan waters. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 153:1934. [PMID: 37002078 DOI: 10.1121/10.0017655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The echolocation clicks of free-ranging Indo-Pacific finless porpoises (IPFPs, Neophocaena phocaenoides) have been rarely studied in the wild. This paper aims at describing the echolocation-click characteristics of IPFPs and examining whether IPFPs adapt their sonar system to the habitats in Hainan waters, China. The echolocation clicks were recorded using a 13 elements star-shaped array of hydrophones. A total of 65 on-axis clicks were identified and analyzed. IPFPs use echolocation clicks with a source level (SL) of 158 ± 9 dB re: 1 μPa peak-peak, mean peak, and centroid frequency of 134 ± 3 kHz, -3 dB bandwidth of 14 ± 2 kHz and produce at inter-click intervals of 104 ± 51 ms. The results relative to other porpoises show that finless porpoises in Hainan waters produce clicks with moderate SLs and high peak frequency. These results could be useful in detecting the presence and estimating the density of IPFPs during passive acoustic monitoring in the study area and serve to shed light on the interpopulation variation of click characteristics of finless porpoises as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Likun Zhao
- Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Sanya, 572000, China
| | - Giacomo Giorli
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Coasts and Oceans, 301 Evans Bay Parade, Greta Point, Wellington, 6021, New Zealand
| | - Francesco Caruso
- Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Sanya, 572000, China
| | - Lijun Dong
- Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Sanya, 572000, China
| | - Zining Gong
- Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Sanya, 572000, China
| | - Mingli Lin
- Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Sanya, 572000, China
| | - Songhai Li
- Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Sanya, 572000, China
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8
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Perra M, Brinkman T, Scheifele P, Barcalow S. Exploring Auditory Thresholds for Reindeer, Rangifer Tarandus. J Vet Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2022.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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9
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Wake N, Ishizu K, Abe T, Takahashi H. Prepulse inhibition predicts subjective hearing in rats. Sci Rep 2021; 11:18902. [PMID: 34556706 PMCID: PMC8460677 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98167-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Auditory studies in animals benefit from quick and accurate audiometry. The auditory brainstem response (ABR) and prepulse inhibition (PPI) have been widely used for hearing assessment in animals, but how well these assessments predict subjective audiometry still remains unclear. Human studies suggest that subjective audiometry is consistent with the ABR-based audiogram, not with the PPI-based audiogram, likely due to top-down processing in the cortex that inhibits PPI. Here, we challenged this view in Wistar rats, as rodents exhibit less complexity of cortical activities and thereby less influence of the cerebral cortex on PPI compared to humans. To test our hypothesis, we investigated whether subjective audiometry correlates with ABR- or PPI-based audiograms across the range of audible frequencies in Wistar rats. The subjective audiogram was obtained through pure-tone audiometry based on operant conditioning. Our results demonstrated that both the ABR-based and PPI-based audiograms significantly correlated to the subjective audiogram. We also found that ASR strength was information-rich, and adequate interpolation of this data offered accurate audiometry. Thus, unlike in humans, PPI could be used to predict subjective audibility in rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoki Wake
- grid.26999.3d0000 0001 2151 536XDepartment of Mechano-Informatics, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656 Japan
| | - Kotaro Ishizu
- grid.26999.3d0000 0001 2151 536XDepartment of Mechano-Informatics, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656 Japan
| | - Taiki Abe
- grid.26999.3d0000 0001 2151 536XDepartment of Mechano-Informatics, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656 Japan
| | - Hirokazu Takahashi
- grid.26999.3d0000 0001 2151 536XDepartment of Mechano-Informatics, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656 Japan
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10
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Martin MJ, Torres Ortiz S, Reyes Reyes MV, Marino A, Iñíguez Bessega M, Wahlberg M. Commerson’s dolphins (Cephalorhynchus commersonii) can relax acoustic crypsis. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-021-03035-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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11
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Malinka CE, Tønnesen P, Dunn CA, Claridge DE, Gridley T, Elwen SH, Teglberg Madsen P. Echolocation click parameters and biosonar behaviour of the dwarf sperm whale ( Kogia sima). J Exp Biol 2021; 224:224/6/jeb240689. [PMID: 33771935 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.240689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Dwarf sperm whales (Kogia sima) are small toothed whales that produce narrow-band high-frequency (NBHF) echolocation clicks. Such NBHF clicks, subject to high levels of acoustic absorption, are usually produced by small, shallow-diving odontocetes, such as porpoises, in keeping with their short-range echolocation and fast click rates. Here, we sought to address the problem of how the little-studied and deep-diving Kogia can hunt with NBHF clicks in the deep sea. Specifically, we tested the hypotheses that Kogia produce NBHF clicks with longer inter-click intervals (ICIs), higher directionality and higher source levels (SLs) compared with other NBHF species. We did this by deploying an autonomous deep-water vertical hydrophone array in the Bahamas, where no other NBHF species are present, and by taking opportunistic recordings of a close-range Kogia sima in a South African harbour. Parameters from on-axis clicks (n=46) in the deep revealed very narrow-band clicks (root mean squared bandwidth, BWRMS, of 3±1 kHz), with SLs of up to 197 dB re. 1 µPa peak-to-peak (μPapp) at 1 m, and a half-power beamwidth of 8.8 deg. Their ICIs (mode of 245 ms) were much longer than those of porpoises (<100 ms), suggesting an inspection range that is longer than detection ranges of single prey, perhaps to facilitate auditory streaming of a complex echo scene. On-axis clicks in the shallow harbour (n=870) had ICIs and SLs in keeping with source parameters of other NBHF cetaceans. Thus, in the deep, dwarf sperm whales use a directional, but short-range echolocation system with moderate SLs, suggesting a reliable mesopelagic prey habitat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe E Malinka
- Zoophysiology, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Pernille Tønnesen
- Zoophysiology, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Charlotte A Dunn
- Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation (BMMRO), Sandy Point, Abaco, Bahamas.,Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Diane E Claridge
- Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation (BMMRO), Sandy Point, Abaco, Bahamas.,Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Tess Gridley
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7605, South Africa.,Sea Search Research and Conservation, Muizenberg, Cape Town 7945, South Africa
| | - Simon H Elwen
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7605, South Africa.,Sea Search Research and Conservation, Muizenberg, Cape Town 7945, South Africa
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12
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Rößler H, Tougaard J, Sabinsky PF, Rasmussen MH, Granquist SM, Wahlberg M. Are Icelandic harbor seals acoustically cryptic to avoid predation? JASA EXPRESS LETTERS 2021; 1:031201. [PMID: 36154560 DOI: 10.1121/10.0003782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Male harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) produce stereotypic underwater roars during the mating season. It remains unclear to what extent roar structures vary due to predation levels. Here, seal roars from waters with many (Iceland) and few (Denmark and Sweden) predators were compared. Most Icelandic roars included a long pulse train and a pause. Icelandic roars occurred less frequently, lasted longer (20.3 ± 6.5 s), and were recorded with lower received sound levels (98.3 ± 8.9 dB re 1 μPa root mean square) than roars from Denmark and Sweden. Local extrinsic factors may shape sound production in harbor seals more than previously reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Rößler
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Jakob Tougaard
- Department for Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Puk F Sabinsky
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Marianne H Rasmussen
- University of Iceland Research Center in Húsavík, Hafnarstétt 3, 640 Húsavík, Iceland
| | - Sandra M Granquist
- Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, Fornubúðum 5, 220 Hafnarfjörður, Iceland , , , , ,
| | - Magnus Wahlberg
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M, Denmark
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13
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Richard G, Samaran F, Guinet C, Bonnel J. Settings of demersal longlines reveal acoustic cues that can inform toothed whales where and when to depredate. JASA EXPRESS LETTERS 2021; 1:016004. [PMID: 36154091 DOI: 10.1121/10.0003191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Fishing boats produce acoustic cues while hauling longlines. These acoustic signals are known to be used by odontocetes to detect the fishing activity and to depredate. However, very little is known about potential interactions before hauling. This article describes the acoustic signature of the setting activity. Using passive acoustic recorders attached to the buoys of longlines, this work demonstrates an increase in the ambient sound of ∼6 dB re 1 μPa2 Hz-1 within 2-7 kHz during the setting activity. This could also be used as an acoustic cue by depredating species, suggesting that predators can detect longlines as soon as they are set.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaëtan Richard
- Laboratoire des Sciences et Techniques de l'Information, de la Communication et de la Connaissance, Unité Mixte de Recherche 6285, École Nationale Supérieure de Techniques Avancées Bretagne, 2 rue François Verny, 29806 Brest Cedex 9, France
| | - Flore Samaran
- Laboratoire des Sciences et Techniques de l'Information, de la Communication et de la Connaissance, Unité Mixte de Recherche 6285, École Nationale Supérieure de Techniques Avancées Bretagne, 2 rue François Verny, 29806 Brest Cedex 9, France
| | - Christophe Guinet
- Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7372, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and La Rochelle Université, 79360 Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Julien Bonnel
- Applied Ocean Physics and Engineering Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 266 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543-1050, USA , , ,
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14
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Möckel D, Groulx T, Faure PA. Development of hearing in the big brown bat. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2020; 207:27-42. [PMID: 33200279 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-020-01452-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
We studied the development of hearing in newborn pups of the big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus. In the majority of pups, the opening of both outer auditory canals occurred on or before postnatal day (PND) 7, but in some, it extended to PND 11. Using repeated auditory brainstem response (ABR) recordings, we tracked the progressive development and maturation of auditory sensitivity in 22 E. fuscus pups every 3 days, from PND 10 to PND 31, with additional recordings in a subset of bats at 2 months, 3 months and 1 year of life. There was a profound increase in auditory sensitivity across development for frequencies between 4 and 100 kHz, with the largest threshold shifts occurring early in development between PND 10 and 19. Prior to PND 13-16 and when pups were still non-volant, most bats were unable to hear frequencies above 48 kHz; however, sensitivity to these higher ultrasonic frequencies increased with age. Notably, this change occurred near the age when young bats started learning how to fly and echolocate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doreen Möckel
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Thomas Groulx
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Paul A Faure
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada.
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15
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Kuroda M, Miki N, Matsuishi TF. Determinants of echolocation click frequency characteristics in small toothed whales: recent advances from anatomical information. Mamm Rev 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mika Kuroda
- Faculty of Fisheries Sciences Hokkaido University 3‐1‐1 Minato‐cho Hakodate Hokkaido041‐8611Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Miki
- Future University Hakodate 116‐2 Kamedanakano‐cho Hakodate Hokkaido041‐8655Japan
| | - Takashi Fritz Matsuishi
- Faculty of Fisheries Sciences Hokkaido University 3‐1‐1 Minato‐cho Hakodate Hokkaido041‐8611Japan
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16
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Filatova OA. Independent acoustic variation of the higher- and lower-frequency components of biphonic calls can facilitate call recognition and social affiliation in killer whales. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0236749. [PMID: 32730308 PMCID: PMC7392277 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Each resident-type (R-type) killer whale pod has a set of stereotyped calls that are culturally transmitted from mother to offspring. The functions of particular call types are not yet clearly understood, but it is believed that calls with two independently modulated frequency components (biphonic calls) play an important role in pod communication and cohesion at long ranges. In this study we examined the possible functions of biphonic calls in R-type killer whales. First, we tested the hypothesis that the additional component enhances the potential of a call to identify the family affiliation. We found that the similarity patterns of the lower- and higher frequency components across the families were largely unrelated. Calls were classified more accurately to their respective family when both lower- and higher-frequency components were considered. Second, we tested the long-range detectability of the lower- and higher-frequency components. After adjusting the received levels by the killer whale hearing sensitivity to different frequency ranges, the sensation level of the higher-frequency component was higher than the amplitude of the lower-frequency component. Our results suggest that the higher-frequency component of killer whale biphonic calls varies independently of the lower-frequency component, which enhances the efficiency of these calls as family markers. The acoustic variation of the higher-frequency component allows the recognition of family identity of a caller even if the shape of the lower-frequency component accidentally becomes similar in unrelated families. The higher-frequency component can also facilitate family recognition when the lower-frequency component is masked by low-frequency noise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga A. Filatova
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
- * E-mail:
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17
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Evoked-potential audiogram variability in a group of wild Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis). J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2020; 206:527-541. [PMID: 32448998 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-020-01426-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/16/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Hearing is considered the primary sensory modality of cetaceans and enables their vital life functions. Information on the hearing sensitivity variability within a species obtained in a biologically relevant wild context is fundamental to evaluating potential noise impact and population-relevant management. Here, non-invasive auditory evoked-potential methods were adopted to describe the audiograms (11.2-152 kHz) of a group of four wild Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) during a capture-and-release health assessment project in Poyang Lake, China. All audiograms presented a U shape, generally similar to those of other delphinids and phocoenids. The lowest auditory threshold (51-55 dB re 1 µPa) was identified at a test frequency of 76 kHz, which was higher than that observed in aquarium porpoises (54 kHz). The good hearing range (within 20 dB of the best hearing sensitivity) was from approximately 20 to 145 kHz, and the low- and high-frequency hearing cut-offs (threshold > 120 dB re l μPa) were 5.6 and 170 kHz, respectively. Compared with aquarium porpoises, wild porpoises have significantly better hearing sensitivity at 32 and 76 kHz and worse sensitivity at 54, 108 and 140 kHz. The audiograms of this group can provide a basis for better understanding the potential impact of anthropogenic noise.
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18
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Götz T, Pacini AF, Nachtigall PE, Janik VM. The startle reflex in echolocating odontocetes: basic physiology and practical implications. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 223:223/5/jeb208470. [PMID: 32165452 PMCID: PMC7075047 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.208470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The acoustic startle reflex is an oligo-synaptic reflex arc elicited by rapid-onset sounds. Odontocetes evolved a range of specific auditory adaptations to aquatic hearing and echolocation, e.g. the ability to downregulate their auditory sensitivity when emitting clicks. However, it remains unclear whether these adaptations also led to changes of the startle reflex. We investigated reactions to startling sounds in two bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and one false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens). Animals were exposed to 50 ms, 1/3 octave band noise pulses of varying levels at frequencies of 1, 10, 25 and 32 kHz while positioned in a hoop station. Startle responses were quantified by measuring rapid muscle contractions using a three-dimensional accelerometer attached to the dolphin. Startle magnitude increased exponentially with increasing received levels. Startle thresholds were frequency dependent and ranged from 131 dB at 32 kHz to 153 dB at 1 kHz (re. 1 µPa). Startle thresholds only exceeded masked auditory AEP thresholds of the animals by 47 dB but were ∼82 dB above published behavioural audiograms for these species. We also tested the effect of stimulus rise time on startle magnitude using a broadband noise pulse. Startle responses decreased with increasing rise times from 2 to 100 ms. Models suggested that rise times of 141–220 ms were necessary to completely mitigate startle responses. Our data showed that the startle reflex is conserved in odontocetes and follows similar principles as in terrestrial mammals. These principles should be considered when assessing and mitigating the effects of anthropogenic noise on marine mammals. Summary: The acoustic startle reflex is conserved in echolocating toothed whales and should be considered when predicting marine mammal responses to human-generated underwater noise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Götz
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Aude F Pacini
- Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, P.O. Box 1346, Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744, USA
| | - Paul E Nachtigall
- Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, P.O. Box 1346, Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744, USA
| | - Vincent M Janik
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Fife KY16 8LB, UK
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19
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Wetekam J, Reissig C, Hechavarria JC, Kössl M. Auditory brainstem responses in the bat Carollia perspicillata: threshold calculation and relation to audiograms based on otoacoustic emission measurement. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2019; 206:95-101. [PMID: 31853637 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-019-01394-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Revised: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
An objective method to evaluate auditory brainstem-evoked responses (ABR) based on the root-mean-square (rms) amplitude of the measured signal and bootstrapping procedures was used to determine threshold curves (see Lv et al. in Med Eng Phys 29:191-198, 2007; Linnenschmidt and Wiegrebe in Hear Res 373:85-95, 2019). The rms values and their significance for threshold determination depended strongly on the filtering of the signal. Using the minimum threshold values obtained at three different low-frequency filter corner frequencies (30, 100, 300 Hz), ABR threshold curves were calculated. The course of the ABR thresholds was comparable to that of published DPOAE (distortion-product otoacoustic emission) thresholds based on a - 10 dB SPL threshold criterion for the 2f1-f2 emission (Schlenther et al. in J Assoc Res Otolaryngol 15:695-705, 2014, frequency range 10-90 kHz). For frequencies between 20 and 80 kHz, which is the most sensitive part of the bat's audiogram, median thresholds ranged between 10 and 28 dB SPL, and the DPOAE thresholds ranged between 10 and 23 dB SPL. At frequencies below 20 kHz (5-20 kHz) and above 80 kHz (80-120 kHz), ABR thresholds increased by 20 dB/octave and 45 dB/octave, respectively. We conclude that the combination of objective threshold determination and multiple filtering of the signal gives reliable ABR thresholds comparable to cochlear threshold curves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Wetekam
- Institute for Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Straße 13, 60439, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Christin Reissig
- Institute for Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Straße 13, 60439, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Julio C Hechavarria
- Institute for Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Straße 13, 60439, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Manfred Kössl
- Institute for Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Straße 13, 60439, Frankfurt, Germany.
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20
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Santos-Sacchi J, Tan W. Voltage Does Not Drive Prestin (SLC26a5) Electro-Mechanical Activity at High Frequencies Where Cochlear Amplification Is Best. iScience 2019; 22:392-399. [PMID: 31812809 PMCID: PMC6911985 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2019.11.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cochlear amplification denotes a boost to auditory sensitivity and selectivity that is dependent on outer hair cells from Corti's organ. Voltage-driven electromotility of the cell is believed to feed energy back into the cochlear partition via a cycle-by-cycle mechanism at very high acoustic frequencies. Here we show using wide-band macro-patch voltage-clamp to drive prestin, the molecular motor underlying electromotility, that its voltage-sensor charge movement is unusually low pass in nature, being incapable of following high-frequency voltage changes. Our data are incompatible with a cycle-by-cycle mechanism responsible for high-frequency tuning in mammals. Outer hair cells (OHC) boost auditory sensation for very high acoustic frequencies We studied the frequency response of OHC's electromechanical nonlinear capacitance The response is incommensurate with cycle-by-cycle feedback at very high frequencies OHCs likely use another mechanism to drive cochlear amplification at high frequencies
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Santos-Sacchi
- Surgery (Otolaryngology), Yale University School of Medicine, BML 224, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
| | - Winston Tan
- Surgery (Otolaryngology), Yale University School of Medicine, BML 224, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
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21
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Houser DS, Mulsow J, Almunia J, Finneran JJ. Frequency-modulated up-chirp stimuli enhance the auditory brainstem response of the killer whale (Orcinus orca). THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2019; 146:289. [PMID: 31370605 DOI: 10.1121/1.5116141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies suggested that frequency-modulated tonal stimuli where the frequency sweeps upward (up-chirps) may enhance auditory brainstem response (ABR) amplitudes in mammals. In this study, ABRs were measured in response to up-chirps in three killer whales (Orcinus orca) and compared to ABRs evoked by broadband clicks. Chirp durations ranged from 125 - 2000 μs. Chirp spectral content was either "uncompensated," meaning the spectrum paralleled the transmitting response of the piezoelectric transducer, or "compensated," where the spectral density level was flat (+/-4 dB) across the stimulus bandwidth (10 - 130 kHz). Compensated up-chirps consistently produced higher amplitude ABRs than uncompensated clicks with the same peak equivalent sound pressure level. ABR amplitude increased with up-chirp duration up to 1400 μs, although there was considerable variability between individuals. Results suggest that compensating stimuli for the response of transducers can have a dramatic effect on broadband ABRs, and that compensated up-chirps might be useful for testing whale species where large size makes far-field recording of ABRs at the skin surface difficult.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorian S Houser
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, 2240 Shelter Island Drive, Suite 200, San Diego, California 92106, USA
| | - Jason Mulsow
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, 2240 Shelter Island Drive, Suite 200, San Diego, California 92106, USA
| | - Javier Almunia
- Loro Parque Foundation, Puerto de la Cruz, 38400 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain
| | - James J Finneran
- U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program, Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, Code 56710, 53560 Hull Street, San Diego, California 92152, USA
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22
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Taylor RC, Akre K, Wilczynski W, Ryan MJ. Behavioral and neural auditory thresholds in a frog. Curr Zool 2019; 65:333-341. [PMID: 31263492 PMCID: PMC6595421 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoy089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Vocalizations play a critical role in mate recognition and mate choice in a number of taxa, especially, but not limited to, orthopterans, frogs, and birds. But receivers can only recognize and prefer sounds that they can hear. Thus a fundamental question linking neurobiology and sexual selection asks-what is the threshold for detecting acoustic sexual displays? In this study, we use 3 methods to assess such thresholds in túngara frogs: behavioral responses, auditory brainstem responses, and multiunit electrophysiological recordings from the midbrain. We show that thresholds are lowest for multiunit recordings (ca. 45 dB SPL), and then for behavioral responses (ca. 61 dB SPL), with auditory brainstem responses exhibiting the highest thresholds (ca. 71 dB SPL). We discuss why these estimates differ and why, as with other studies, it is unlikely that they should be the same. Although all of these studies estimate thresholds they are not measuring the same thresholds; behavioral thresholds are based on signal salience whereas the 2 neural assays estimate physiological thresholds. All 3 estimates, however, make it clear that to have an appreciation for detection and salience of acoustic signals we must listen to those signals through the ears of the receivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan C Taylor
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD, USA
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Republic of Panama
| | - Karin Akre
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Walter Wilczynski
- Neuroscience Institute and Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Michael J Ryan
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Republic of Panama
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23
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Martin MJ, Elwen SH, Kassanjee R, Gridley T. To buzz or burst-pulse? The functional role of Heaviside's dolphin, Cephalorhynchus heavisidii, rapidly pulsed signals. Anim Behav 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2019.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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24
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Mooney TA, Smith A, Larsen ON, Hansen KA, Wahlberg M, Rasmussen MH. Field-based hearing measurements of two seabird species. J Exp Biol 2019; 222:222/4/jeb190710. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.190710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Hearing is a primary sensory modality for birds. For seabirds, auditory data is challenging to obtain and hearing data are limited. Here, we present methods to measure seabird hearing in the field, using two Alcid species: the common murre Uria aalge and the Atlantic puffin Fratercula arctica. Tests were conducted in a portable semi-anechoic crate using physiological auditory evoked potential (AEP) methods. The crate and AEP system were easily transportable to northern Iceland field sites, where wild birds were caught, sedated, studied and released. The resulting data demonstrate the feasibility of a field-based application of an established neurophysiology method, acquiring high quality avian hearing data in a relatively quiet setting. Similar field methods could be applied to other seabirds, and other bird species, resulting in reliable hearing data from a large number of individuals with a modest field effort. The results will provide insights into the sound sensitivity of species facing acoustic habitat degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- T. Aran Mooney
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 266 Woods Hole Rd, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
| | - Adam Smith
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 266 Woods Hole Rd, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
| | - Ole Naesbye Larsen
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | | | - Magnus Wahlberg
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
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25
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Williams R, Veirs S, Veirs V, Ashe E, Mastick N. Approaches to reduce noise from ships operating in important killer whale habitats. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2019; 139:459-469. [PMID: 29983160 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Revised: 05/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/10/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Shipping is key to global trade, but is also a dominant source of anthropogenic noise in the ocean. Chronic noise from ships can affect acoustic quality of important whale habitats. Noise from ships has been identified as one of three main stressors-in addition to contaminants, and lack of Chinook salmon prey-in the recovery of the endangered southern resident killer whale (SRKW) population. Managers recognize existing noise levels as a threat to the acoustical integrity of SRKW critical habitat. There is an urgent need to identify practical ways to reduce ocean noise given projected increases in shipping in the SRKW's summertime critical habitat in the Salish Sea. We reviewed the literature to provide a qualitative description of mitigation approaches. We use an existing ship source level dataset to quantify how some mitigation approaches could readily reduce noise levels by 3-10 dB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rob Williams
- Oceans Initiative, USA; Oceans Research and Conservation Association, Canada.
| | | | | | - Erin Ashe
- Oceans Initiative, USA; Oceans Research and Conservation Association, Canada.
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26
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Tubelli AA, Zosuls A, Ketten DR, Mountain DC. A model and experimental approach to the middle ear transfer function related to hearing in the humpback whale ( Megaptera novaeangliae). THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2018; 144:525. [PMID: 30180668 DOI: 10.1121/1.5048421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2018] [Accepted: 07/11/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
At present, there are no direct measures of hearing for any baleen whale (Mysticeti). The most viable alternative to in vivo approaches to simulate the audiogram is through modeling outer, middle, and inner ear functions based on the anatomy and material properties of each component. This paper describes a finite element model of the middle ear for the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) to calculate the middle ear transfer function (METF) to determine acoustic energy transmission to the cochlea. The model was developed based on high resolution computed tomography imaging and direct anatomical measurements of the middle ear components for this mysticete species. Mechanical properties for the middle ear tissues were determined from experimental measurements and published values. The METF for the humpback whale predicted a better frequency range between approximately 15 Hz and 3 kHz or between 200 Hz and 9 kHz based on two potential stimulation locations. Experimental measures of the ossicular chain, tympanic membrane, and tympanic bone velocities showed frequency response characteristics consistent with the model. The predicted best sensitivity hearing ranges match well with known vocalizations of this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew A Tubelli
- Boston University Hearing Research Center and Department of Biomedical Engineering, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
| | - Aleksandrs Zosuls
- Boston University Hearing Research Center and Department of Biomedical Engineering, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
| | - Darlene R Ketten
- Boston University Hearing Research Center and Department of Biomedical Engineering, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
| | - David C Mountain
- Boston University Hearing Research Center and Department of Biomedical Engineering, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
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27
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Martin MJ, Gridley T, Elwen SH, Jensen FH. Heaviside's dolphins ( Cephalorhynchus heavisidii) relax acoustic crypsis to increase communication range. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:rspb.2018.1178. [PMID: 30051842 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.1178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The costs of predation may exert significant pressure on the mode of communication used by an animal, and many species balance the benefits of communication (e.g. mate attraction) against the potential risk of predation. Four groups of toothed whales have independently evolved narrowband high-frequency (NBHF) echolocation signals. These signals help NBHF species avoid predation through acoustic crypsis by echolocating and communicating at frequencies inaudible to predators such as mammal-eating killer whales. Heaviside's dolphins (Cephalorhynchus heavisidii) are thought to exclusively produce NBHF echolocation clicks with a centroid frequency around 125 kHz and little to no energy below 100 kHz. To test this, we recorded wild Heaviside's dolphins in a sheltered bay in Namibia. We demonstrate that Heaviside's dolphins produce a second type of click with lower frequency and broader bandwidth in a frequency range that is audible to killer whales. These clicks are used in burst-pulses and occasional click series but not foraging buzzes. We evaluate three different hypotheses and conclude that the most likely benefit of these clicks is to decrease transmission directivity and increase conspecific communication range. The expected increase in active space depends on background noise but ranges from 2.5 (Wenz Sea State 6) to 5 times (Wenz Sea State 1) the active space of NBHF signals. This dual click strategy therefore allows these social dolphins to maintain acoustic crypsis during navigation and foraging, and to selectively relax their crypsis to facilitate communication with conspecifics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan J Martin
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, c/o Sea Search Research and Conservation NPC, 4 Bath Rd, Cape Town 7945, South Africa
| | - Tess Gridley
- Centre for Statistics in Ecology, Environment and Conservation, Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town, c/o Sea Search Research and Conservation NPC, 4 Bath Rd, Cape Town 7945, South Africa
| | - Simon H Elwen
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, c/o Sea Search Research and Conservation NPC, 4 Bath Rd, Cape Town 7945, South Africa
| | - Frants H Jensen
- Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.,Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 266 Woods Hole Rd, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
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28
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Sørensen PM, Wisniewska DM, Jensen FH, Johnson M, Teilmann J, Madsen PT. Click communication in wild harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena). Sci Rep 2018; 8:9702. [PMID: 29946073 PMCID: PMC6018799 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-28022-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Social delphinids employ a vocal repertoire of clicks for echolocation and whistles for communication. Conversely, the less social and acoustically cryptic harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) only produce narrow-band high-frequency (NBHF) clicks with properties that appear poorly suited for communication. Nevertheless, these small odontocetes likely mediate social interactions, such as mate choice and mother-calf contact, with sound. Here, we deployed six tags (DTAG3) on wild porpoises in Danish waters for a total of 96 hours to investigate if the patterns and use of stereotyped NBHF click trains are consistent with a communication function. We show that wild porpoises produce frequent (up to 27 • min-1), high-repetition rate click series with repetition rates and output levels different from those of foraging buzzes. These sounds are produced in bouts and frequently co-occur with emission of similar sounds by nearby conspecifics, audible on the tags for >10% of the time. These results suggest that social interactions are more important to this species than their limited social encounters at the surface may indicate and that these interactions are mediated by at least two broad categories of calls composed of short, high-repetition rate click trains that may encode information via the repetition rate of their stereotyped NBHF clicks.
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Affiliation(s)
- P M Sørensen
- Zoophysiology, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, C.F. Moellers Allé 3, DK-8000, Aarhus C, Denmark.
| | - D M Wisniewska
- Zoophysiology, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, C.F. Moellers Allé 3, DK-8000, Aarhus C, Denmark.,Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University, 120 Ocean View Blvd, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950, USA
| | - F H Jensen
- Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, Aarhus University, DK, Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 6b, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - M Johnson
- Zoophysiology, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, C.F. Moellers Allé 3, DK-8000, Aarhus C, Denmark.,Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 8LB, United Kingdom
| | - J Teilmann
- Marine Mammal Research, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - P T Madsen
- Zoophysiology, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, C.F. Moellers Allé 3, DK-8000, Aarhus C, Denmark.,Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, Aarhus University, DK, Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 6b, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
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Mooney TA, Castellote M, Quakenbush L, Hobbs R, Gaglione E, Goertz C. Variation in hearing within a wild population of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas). J Exp Biol 2018; 221:221/9/jeb171959. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.171959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 03/12/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Documenting hearing abilities is vital to understanding a species’ acoustic ecology and for predicting the impacts of increasing anthropogenic noise. Cetaceans use sound for essential biological functions such as foraging, navigation and communication; hearing is considered to be their primary sensory modality. Yet, we know little regarding the hearing of most, if not all, cetacean populations, which limits our understanding of their sensory ecology, population level variability and the potential impacts of increasing anthropogenic noise. We obtained audiograms (5.6–150 kHz) of 26 wild beluga whales to measure hearing thresholds during capture–release events in Bristol Bay, AK, USA, using auditory evoked potential methods. The goal was to establish the baseline population audiogram, incidences of hearing loss and general variability in wild beluga whales. In general, belugas showed sensitive hearing with low thresholds (<80 dB) from 16 to 100 kHz, and most individuals (76%) responded to at least 120 kHz. Despite belugas often showing sensitive hearing, thresholds were usually above or approached the low ambient noise levels measured in the area, suggesting that a quiet environment may be associated with hearing sensitivity and that hearing thresholds in the most sensitive animals may have been masked. Although this is just one wild population, the success of the method suggests that it should be applied to other populations and species to better assess potential differences. Bristol Bay beluga audiograms showed substantial (30–70 dB) variation among individuals; this variation increased at higher frequencies. Differences among individual belugas reflect that testing multiple individuals of a population is necessary to best describe maximum sensitivity and population variance. The results of this study quadruple the number of individual beluga whales for which audiograms have been conducted and provide the first auditory data for a population of healthy wild odontocetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- T. Aran Mooney
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
| | - Manuel Castellote
- Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean (JISAO), University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
- Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, Seattle, WA 98115, USA
| | - Lori Quakenbush
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Fairbanks, AK 99701, USA
| | - Roderick Hobbs
- Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, Seattle, WA 98115, USA
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AUDITORY EVOKED POTENTIALS AND BEHAVIORAL CONSIDERATIONS WITH HEARING LOSS IN SMALL CETACEANS: APPLICATION AS A STANDARD DIAGNOSTIC TEST IN HEALTH ASSESSMENT. J Zoo Wildl Med 2018; 48:979-986. [PMID: 29297800 DOI: 10.1638/2017-0045r.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The primary sense in odontocetes is hearing and a large portion of the odontocete brain is devoted to the auditory processing of echolocation signals. Hearing deficits in odontocetes potentially compromise the ability to forage, navigate, socialize, and evade predators. This presents a challenge to survival and reproduction in wild odontocetes and can affect the general welfare of odontocetes under human care. Currently, little empirical information on how odontocete behavior is affected by hearing loss exists. This study investigated hearing deficits in several species of stranded dolphins and age-related hearing deficits in dolphins kept under human care through auditory evoked potential (AEP) testing and evaluated whether individual behavior correlated with hearing impairment. Behavioral questionnaires for participating animals were completed by individuals with extensive knowledge of the animals' history and behavior. A chi-square analysis determined whether animals with hearing impairment demonstrated behaviors that differed significantly from those considered normal. All tested individuals under human care over 35 years of age had some degree of hearing loss, as did a large percentage of previously stranded animals. Individuals with hearing loss exhibited a range of behavioral changes, including delays in learning new behaviors, accepting novel enrichment, and habituating to new environments. Some individuals with profound hearing loss also displayed a change in vocalization rate in various situations. Findings within previously stranded animals suggest AEP studies should be conducted in all stranded individuals entering rehabilitation. It is further recommended that dolphins living under human care undergo hearing tests as part of their normal health assessments, with emphasis on aging individuals and animals that exhibit delayed learning, respond poorly to audible cues, or show atypical vocalization behavior.
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Heffner HE, Heffner RS. Comments on "Killer whale (Orcinus orca) behavioral audiograms" [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 141, 2387-2398 (2017)]. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2018; 143:500. [PMID: 29390732 DOI: 10.1121/1.5021771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Branstetter and his colleagues present the audiograms of eight killer whales and provide a comprehensive review of previous killer whale audiograms. In their paper, they say that the present authors have reported a relationship between size and high-frequency hearing but that echolocating cetaceans might be a special case. The purpose of these comments is to clarify that the relationship of a species' high-frequency hearing is not to its size (mass) but to its "functional interaural distance" (a measure of the availability of sound-localization cues). Moreover, it has previously been noted that echolocating animals, cetaceans as well as bats, have extended their high-frequency hearing somewhat beyond the frequencies used by comparable non-echolocators for passive localization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry E Heffner
- Department of Psychology, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio 43606, USA
| | - Rickye S Heffner
- Department of Psychology, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio 43606, USA
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32
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Gerhardt P, Henning Y, Begall S, Malkemper EP. Audiograms of three subterranean rodent species (genus Fukomys) determined by auditory brainstem responses reveal extremely poor high-frequency hearing. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 220:4377-4382. [PMID: 29025871 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.164426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 10/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Life underground has shaped the auditory sense of subterranean mammals, shifting their hearing range to low frequencies. Mole-rats of the genus Fukomys have, however, been suggested to hear at frequencies up to 18.5 kHz, unusually high for a subterranean rodent. We present audiograms of three mole-rat species, Fukomys anselli, Fukomys micklemi and the giant mole-rat Fukomys mechowii, based on evoked auditory brainstem potentials. All species showed low sensitivity and restricted hearing ranges at 60 dB SPL extending from 125 Hz to 4 kHz (5 octaves) with most-sensitive hearing between 0.8 kHz and 1.4 kHz. The high-frequency cut-offs are the lowest found in mammals to date. In contrast to predictions from middle ear morphology, F. mechowii did not show higher sensitivity than F. anselli in the low-frequency range. These data suggest that the hearing range of Fukomys mole-rats is highly restricted to low frequencies and similar to that of other subterranean mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Gerhardt
- Department of General Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany
| | - Yoshiyuki Henning
- Department of General Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany
| | - Sabine Begall
- Department of General Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany
| | - E Pascal Malkemper
- Department of General Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany .,Department of Wildlife Management, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, 16521 Praha 6, Czech Republic
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Brando S, Broom DM, Acasuso-Rivero C, Clark F. Optimal marine mammal welfare under human care: Current efforts and future directions. Behav Processes 2017; 156:16-36. [PMID: 28927965 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2017.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2016] [Revised: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Marine mammals include cetaceans, pinnipeds, sirenians, sea otters and polar bears, many of which are charismatic and popular species commonly kept under human care in zoos and aquaria. However, in comparison with their fully terrestrial counterparts their welfare has been less intensively studied, and their partial or full reliance on the aquatic environment leads to unique welfare challenges. In this paper we attempt to collate and review the research undertaken thus far on marine mammal welfare, and identify the most important gaps in knowledge. We use 'best practice case studies' to highlight examples of research promoting optimal welfare, include suggestions for future directions of research efforts, and make recommendations to strive for optimal welfare, where it is currently lacking, above and beyond minimum legislation and guidelines. Our review of the current literature shows that recently there have been positive forward strides in marine mammal welfare assessment, but fundamental research is still required to validate positive and negative indicators of welfare in marine mammals. Across all marine mammals, more research is required on the dimensions and complexity of pools and land areas necessary for optimal welfare, and the impact of staff absence for most of the 24-h day, as standard working hours are usually between 0900 and 1700.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Brando
- WAZA Executive Office IUCN Conservation Centre, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland.
| | - Donald M Broom
- Centre for Animal Welfare and Anthrozoology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK.
| | - Cristina Acasuso-Rivero
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK.
| | - Fay Clark
- Bristol Zoological Society, c/o Bristol Zoo Gardens, Clifton, Bristol BS8 3HA, UK,.
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Holt MM, Hanson MB, Giles DA, Emmons CK, Hogan JT. Noise levels received by endangered killer whales Orcinus orca before and after implementation of vessel regulations. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2017. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Branstetter BK, St Leger J, Acton D, Stewart J, Houser D, Finneran JJ, Jenkins K. Killer whale (Orcinus orca) behavioral audiograms. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2017; 141:2387. [PMID: 28464669 DOI: 10.1121/1.4979116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Killer whales (Orcinus orca) are one of the most cosmopolitan marine mammal species with potential widespread exposure to anthropogenic noise impacts. Previous audiometric data on this species were from two adult females [Szymanski, Bain, Kiehl, Pennington, Wong, and Henry (1999). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 108, 1322-1326] and one sub-adult male [Hall and Johnson (1972). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 51, 515-517] with apparent high-frequency hearing loss. All three killer whales had best sensitivity between 15 and 20 kHz, with thresholds lower than any odontocete tested to date, suggesting this species might be particularly sensitive to acoustic disturbance. The current study reports the behavioral audiograms of eight killer whales at two different facilities. Hearing sensitivity was measured from 100 Hz to 160 kHz in killer whales ranging in age from 12 to 52 year. Previously measured low thresholds at 20 kHz were not replicated in any individual. Hearing in the killer whales was generally similar to other delphinids, with lowest threshold (49 dB re 1 μPa) at approximately 34 kHz, good hearing (i.e., within 20 dB of best sensitivity) from 5 to 81 kHz, and low- and high-frequency hearing cutoffs (>100 dB re μPa) of 600 Hz and 114 kHz, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian K Branstetter
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, 2240 Shelter Island Drive, No. 200, San Diego, California 92106, USA
| | - Judy St Leger
- Sea World San Diego, 500 Sea World Drive, San Diego, California 92109, USA
| | - Doug Acton
- Sea World San Antonio, 10500 Sea World Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78251, USA
| | - John Stewart
- Sea World San Diego, 500 Sea World Drive, San Diego, California 92109, USA
| | - Dorian Houser
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, 2240 Shelter Island Drive, No. 200, San Diego, California 92106, USA
| | - James J Finneran
- U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific, Code 71510, 53560 Hull Street, San Diego, California 92152, USA
| | - Keith Jenkins
- U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific, Code 71510, 53560 Hull Street, San Diego, California 92152, USA
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Southall BL, Nowacek DP, Miller PJO, Tyack PL. Experimental field studies to measure behavioral responses of cetaceans to sonar. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2016. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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37
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Schwing R, Nelson XJ, Parsons S. Audiogram of the kea parrot, Nestor notabilis. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2016; 140:3739. [PMID: 27908073 DOI: 10.1121/1.4967757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Vocal communication requires the sender to produce a sound, which transmits through the environment and is perceived by the receiver. Perception is dependent on the quality of the received signal and the receiver's frequency and amplitude sensitivity; hearing sensitivity of animals can be tested using behavioural detection tasks, showing the physical limitations of sound perception. Kea parrots (Nestor notabilis) were tested for their ability to hear sounds that varied in terms of both frequency and amplitude by means of a simple auditory detection task. Audiograms for three kea were similar, with the region of highest sensitivity (1-5 kHz) corresponding to the frequency of the highest amplitude in kea calls. Compared with other parrots and other bird taxa, the overall shape of the kea audiogram follows a similar pattern. However, two potentially interesting differences to the audiograms of other birds were found: an increase in sensitivity at approximately 12 kHz and a decreased sensitivity to frequencies below 1 kHz.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raoul Schwing
- Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ximena J Nelson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
| | - Stuart Parsons
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland Mail Centre, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
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38
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Crowell SE, Wells-Berlin AM, Therrien RE, Yannuzzi SE, Carr CE. In-air hearing of a diving duck: A comparison of psychoacoustic and auditory brainstem response thresholds. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2016; 139:3001. [PMID: 27250191 PMCID: PMC4902812 DOI: 10.1121/1.4948574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2015] [Revised: 04/12/2016] [Accepted: 04/20/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Auditory sensitivity was measured in a species of diving duck that is not often kept in captivity, the lesser scaup. Behavioral (psychoacoustics) and electrophysiological [the auditory brainstem response (ABR)] methods were used to measure in-air auditory sensitivity, and the resulting audiograms were compared. Both approaches yielded audiograms with similar U-shapes and regions of greatest sensitivity (2000-3000 Hz). However, ABR thresholds were higher than psychoacoustic thresholds at all frequencies. This difference was least at the highest frequency tested using both methods (5700 Hz) and greatest at 1000 Hz, where the ABR threshold was 26.8 dB higher than the behavioral measure of threshold. This difference is commonly reported in studies involving many different species. These results highlight the usefulness of each method, depending on the testing conditions and availability of the animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara E Crowell
- U.S. Geological Survey Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, 12100 Beech Forest Road, Laurel, Maryland 20708, USA
| | - Alicia M Wells-Berlin
- U.S. Geological Survey Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, 12100 Beech Forest Road, Laurel, Maryland 20708, USA
| | - Ronald E Therrien
- U.S. Geological Survey Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, 12100 Beech Forest Road, Laurel, Maryland 20708, USA
| | - Sally E Yannuzzi
- Biology Department, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
| | - Catherine E Carr
- Biology Department, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
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39
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Hearing sensitivity in context: Conservation implications for a highly vocal endangered species. Glob Ecol Conserv 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2016.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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40
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Samarra FIP, Deecke VB, Miller PJO. Low-frequency signals produced by Northeast Atlantic killer whales (Orcinus orca). THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2016; 139:1149-1157. [PMID: 27036251 DOI: 10.1121/1.4943555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Killer whale acoustic behavior has been extensively investigated; however, most studies have focused on pulsed calls and whistles. This study reports the production of low-frequency signals by killer whales at frequencies below 300 Hz. Recordings were made in Iceland and Norway when killer whales were observed feeding on herring and no other marine mammal species were nearby. Low-frequency sounds were identified in Iceland and ranged in duration between 0.14 and 2.77 s and in frequency between 50 and 270 Hz, well below the previously reported lower limit for killer whale tonal sounds of 500 Hz. Low-frequency sounds appeared to be produced close in time to tail slaps, which are indicative of feeding attempts, suggesting that these sounds may be related to a feeding context. However, their precise function is unknown, and they could be the by-product of a non-vocal behavior rather than a vocal signal deliberately produced by the whales. Although killer whales in Norway exhibit similar feeding behavior, this sound has not been detected in recordings from Norway to date. This study suggests that, like other delphinids, killer whales produce low-frequency sounds, but further studies will be required to understand whether similar sounds exist in other killer whale populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipa I P Samarra
- Marine Research Institute, Skulagata 4, P.O. Box 1390, 121 Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Volker B Deecke
- Centre for Wildlife Conservation, University of Cumbria, Rydal Road, Ambleside, Cumbria LA22 9BB, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick J O Miller
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews KY16 8LB, United Kingdom
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Erbe C, Reichmuth C, Cunningham K, Lucke K, Dooling R. Communication masking in marine mammals: A review and research strategy. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2016; 103:15-38. [PMID: 26707982 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2015] [Revised: 12/06/2015] [Accepted: 12/10/2015] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Underwater noise, whether of natural or anthropogenic origin, has the ability to interfere with the way in which marine mammals receive acoustic signals (i.e., for communication, social interaction, foraging, navigation, etc.). This phenomenon, termed auditory masking, has been well studied in humans and terrestrial vertebrates (in particular birds), but less so in marine mammals. Anthropogenic underwater noise seems to be increasing in parts of the world's oceans and concerns about associated bioacoustic effects, including masking, are growing. In this article, we review our understanding of masking in marine mammals, summarise data on marine mammal hearing as they relate to masking (including audiograms, critical ratios, critical bandwidths, and auditory integration times), discuss masking release processes of receivers (including comodulation masking release and spatial release from masking) and anti-masking strategies of signalers (e.g. Lombard effect), and set a research framework for improved assessment of potential masking in marine mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Erbe
- Centre for Marine Science & Technology, Curtin University, PO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia.
| | - Colleen Reichmuth
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Long Marine Laboratory, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA.
| | - Kane Cunningham
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Long Marine Laboratory, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA.
| | - Klaus Lucke
- Centre for Marine Science & Technology, Curtin University, PO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia.
| | - Robert Dooling
- University of Maryland, 2123D Biology-Psychology Building, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
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42
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Veirs S, Veirs V, Wood JD. Ship noise extends to frequencies used for echolocation by endangered killer whales. PeerJ 2016; 4:e1657. [PMID: 27004149 PMCID: PMC4800784 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Accepted: 01/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Combining calibrated hydrophone measurements with vessel location data from the Automatic Identification System, we estimate underwater sound pressure levels for 1,582 unique ships that transited the core critical habitat of the endangered Southern Resident killer whales during 28 months between March, 2011, and October, 2013. Median received spectrum levels of noise from 2,809 isolated transits are elevated relative to median background levels not only at low frequencies (20-30 dB re 1 µPa(2)/Hz from 100 to 1,000 Hz), but also at high frequencies (5-13 dB from 10,000 to 96,000 Hz). Thus, noise received from ships at ranges less than 3 km extends to frequencies used by odontocetes. Broadband received levels (11.5-40,000 Hz) near the shoreline in Haro Strait (WA, USA) for the entire ship population were 110 ± 7 dB re 1 µPa on average. Assuming near-spherical spreading based on a transmission loss experiment we compute mean broadband source levels for the ship population of 173 ± 7 dB re 1 µPa 1 m without accounting for frequency-dependent absorption. Mean ship speed was 7.3 ± 2.0 m/s (14.1 ± 3.9 knots). Most ship classes show a linear relationship between source level and speed with a slope near +2 dB per m/s (+1 dB/knot). Spectrum, 1/12-octave, and 1/3-octave source levels for the whole population have median values that are comparable to previous measurements and models at most frequencies, but for select studies may be relatively low below 200 Hz and high above 20,000 Hz. Median source spectrum levels peak near 50 Hz for all 12 ship classes, have a maximum of 159 dB re 1 µPa(2)/Hz @ 1 m for container ships, and vary between classes. Below 200 Hz, the class-specific median spectrum levels bifurcate with large commercial ships grouping as higher power noise sources. Within all ship classes spectrum levels vary more at low frequencies than at high frequencies, and the degree of variability is almost halved for classes that have smaller speed standard deviations. This is the first study to present source spectra for populations of different ship classes operating in coastal habitats, including at higher frequencies used by killer whales for both communication and echolocation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Veirs
- Beam Reach Marine Science and Sustainability School, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Val Veirs
- Department of Physics, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO, United States
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Impacts of Underwater Noise on Marine Vertebrates: Project Introduction and First Results. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2016; 875:631-6. [PMID: 26611013 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-2981-8_76] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The project conducts application-oriented research on impacts of underwater noise on marine vertebrates in the North and Baltic Seas. In distinct subprojects, the hearing sensitivity of harbor porpoises and gray seals as well as the acoustic tolerance limit of harbor porpoises to impulsive noise from pile driving and stress reactions caused by anthropogenic noise is investigated. Animals are equipped with DTAGs capable of recording the actual surrounding noise field of free-swimming harbor porpoises and seals. Acoustic noise mapping including porpoise detectors in the Natura 2000 sites of the North and Baltic Seas will help to fully understand current noise impacts.
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Auditory Evoked Potential Audiograms Compared with Behavioral Audiograms in Aquatic Animals. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2016; 875:1049-56. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-2981-8_130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
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45
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Houghton J, Holt MM, Giles DA, Hanson MB, Emmons CK, Hogan JT, Branch TA, VanBlaricom GR. The Relationship between Vessel Traffic and Noise Levels Received by Killer Whales (Orcinus orca). PLoS One 2015; 10:e0140119. [PMID: 26629916 PMCID: PMC4667929 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0140119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2015] [Accepted: 09/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Whale watching has become increasingly popular as an ecotourism activity around the globe and is beneficial for environmental education and local economies. Southern Resident killer whales (Orcinus orca) comprise an endangered population that is frequently observed by a large whale watching fleet in the inland waters of Washington state and British Columbia. One of the factors identified as a risk to recovery for the population is the effect of vessels and associated noise. An examination of the effects of vessels and associated noise on whale behavior utilized novel equipment to address limitations of previous studies. Digital acoustic recording tags (DTAGs) measured the noise levels the tagged whales received while laser positioning systems allowed collection of geo-referenced data for tagged whales and all vessels within 1000 m of the tagged whale. The objective of the current study was to compare vessel data and DTAG recordings to relate vessel traffic to the ambient noise received by tagged whales. Two analyses were conducted, one including all recording intervals, and one that excluded intervals when only the research vessel was present. For all data, significant predictors of noise levels were length (inverse relationship), number of propellers, and vessel speed, but only 15% of the variation in noise was explained by this model. When research-vessel-only intervals were excluded, vessel speed was the only significant predictor of noise levels, and explained 42% of the variation. Simple linear regressions (ignoring covariates) found that average vessel speed and number of propellers were the only significant correlates with noise levels. We conclude that vessel speed is the most important predictor of noise levels received by whales in this study. Thus, measures that reduce vessel speed in the vicinity of killer whales would reduce noise exposure in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Houghton
- School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Marla M. Holt
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Deborah A. Giles
- Wildlife, Fish, & Conservation Biology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, United States of America
| | - M. Bradley Hanson
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Candice K. Emmons
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey T. Hogan
- Cascadia Research Collective, Olympia, WA, United States of America
| | - Trevor A. Branch
- School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Glenn R. VanBlaricom
- School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
- U.S. Geological Survey, Washington Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Seattle, WA, United States of America
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46
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Robeck TR, Willis K, Scarpuzzi MR, O’Brien JK. Comparisons of life-history parameters between free-ranging and captive killer whale ( Orcinus orca) populations for application toward species management. J Mammal 2015; 96:1055-1070. [PMID: 26937049 PMCID: PMC4668992 DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyv113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Data collected on life-history parameters of known-age animals from the northern (NR) and southern resident (SR) killer whales (Orcinus orca) of the eastern North Pacific were compared with life-history traits of killer whales located at SeaWorld (SEA) facilities. For captive-born SEA animals, mean age and body length at 1st estrus was 7.5 years and 483.7cm, respectively. Estimated mean age at 1st conception was different (P < 0.001) for the combined data from both northern and southern resident (NSR) free-ranging populations (12.1 years) compared to SEA (9.8 years), as was the estimated mean age at 1st observed calf (SEA: 11.1 years, NSR: 14.2 years, P < 0.001). Average calf survival rate to 2 years of age for SEA animals (0.966) was significantly greater (P = 0.04) than that for SR (0.799). Annual survival rate (ASR) for SEA increased over approximately 15-year increments with rates in the most recent period (2000-2015 ASR: 0.976) improved (P < 0.05) over the first 2 periods of captivity (1965-1985: 0.906; 1985-2000: 0.941). The SR (0.966) and NR ASR (0.977) were higher (P ≤ 0.05) than that of SEA until 2000, after which there were no inter-population differences. Based on ASR, median and average life expectancy were 28.8 and 41.6 years (SEA: 2000-2015), 20.1 and 29.0 years (SR), and 29.3 and 42.3 years (NR), respectively. The ASR for animals born at SEA (0.979) was higher (P = 0.02) than that of wild-caught SEA animals (0.944) with a median and average life expectancy of 33.1 and 47.7 years, respectively. These data present evidence for similar life-history parameters of free-ranging and captive killer whale populations and the reproductive potential and survivorship patterns established herein have application for use in future research concerning the overall health of both populations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kevin Willis
- SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Reproductive Research Center, SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, 2595 Ingraham Road, San Diego, CA 92019, USA (TRR, JKO)
- Minnesota Zoo, 13000 Zoo Boulevard, Apple Valley, MN 55124, USA (KW)
- SeaWorld San Diego, 500 SeaWorld Drive, San Diego, CA 92019, USA (MRS)
| | - Michael R. Scarpuzzi
- SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Reproductive Research Center, SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, 2595 Ingraham Road, San Diego, CA 92019, USA (TRR, JKO)
- Minnesota Zoo, 13000 Zoo Boulevard, Apple Valley, MN 55124, USA (KW)
- SeaWorld San Diego, 500 SeaWorld Drive, San Diego, CA 92019, USA (MRS)
| | - Justine K. O’Brien
- SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Reproductive Research Center, SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, 2595 Ingraham Road, San Diego, CA 92019, USA (TRR, JKO)
- Minnesota Zoo, 13000 Zoo Boulevard, Apple Valley, MN 55124, USA (KW)
- SeaWorld San Diego, 500 SeaWorld Drive, San Diego, CA 92019, USA (MRS)
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47
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Andriolo A, Reis SS, Amorim TOS, Sucunza F, de Castro FR, Maia YG, Zerbini AN, Bortolotto GA, Dalla Rosa L. Killer whale (Orcinus orca) whistles from the western South Atlantic Ocean include high frequency signals. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2015; 138:1696-1701. [PMID: 26428807 DOI: 10.1121/1.4928308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Acoustic parameters of killer whale (Orcinus orca) whistles were described for the western South Atlantic Ocean and highlight the occurrence of high frequency whistles. Killer whale signals were recorded on December of 2012, when a pod of four individuals was observed harassing a group of sperm whales. The high frequency whistles were highly stereotyped and were modulated mostly at ultrasonic frequencies. Compared to other contour types, the high frequency whistles are characterized by higher bandwidths, shorter durations, fewer harmonics, and higher sweep rates. The results add to the knowledge of vocal behavior of this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artur Andriolo
- Laboratório de Ecologia Comportamental e Bioacústica, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n - Campus Universitário, Bairro São Pedro, 36036-900, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Sarah S Reis
- Laboratório de Ecologia Comportamental e Bioacústica, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n - Campus Universitário, Bairro São Pedro, 36036-900, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Thiago O S Amorim
- Laboratório de Ecologia Comportamental e Bioacústica, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n - Campus Universitário, Bairro São Pedro, 36036-900, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Federico Sucunza
- Laboratório de Ecologia Comportamental e Bioacústica, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n - Campus Universitário, Bairro São Pedro, 36036-900, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Franciele R de Castro
- Laboratório de Ecologia Comportamental e Bioacústica, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n - Campus Universitário, Bairro São Pedro, 36036-900, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ygor Geyer Maia
- Instituto Aqualie, Avenue Dr. Paulo Japiassu Coelho, 714 - Sala 206, Cascatinha, 36033-310, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Alexandre N Zerbini
- Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, Washington 98115, USA
| | - Guilherme A Bortolotto
- Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Campus Soane Nazaré de Andrade, Km 16 - BR-415, BA, 45662-900, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Luciano Dalla Rosa
- Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal de Rio Grande, Avenue Itália km 8, Bairro Carreiros, 96.203-900, Rio Grande, Brazil
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48
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Filatova OA, Miller PJO, Yurk H, Samarra FIP, Hoyt E, Ford JKB, Matkin CO, Barrett-Lennard LG. Killer whale call frequency is similar across the oceans, but varies across sympatric ecotypes. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2015; 138:251-7. [PMID: 26233024 DOI: 10.1121/1.4922704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Killer whale populations may differ in genetics, morphology, ecology, and behavior. In the North Pacific, two sympatric populations ("resident" and "transient") specialize on different prey (fish and marine mammals) and retain reproductive isolation. In the eastern North Atlantic, whales from the same populations have been observed feeding on both fish and marine mammals. Fish-eating North Pacific "residents" are more genetically related to eastern North Atlantic killer whales than to sympatric mammal-eating "transients." In this paper, a comparison of frequency variables in killer whale calls recorded from four North Pacific resident, two North Pacific transient, and two eastern North Atlantic populations is reported to assess which factors drive the large-scale changes in call structure. Both low-frequency and high-frequency components of North Pacific transient killer whale calls have significantly lower frequencies than those of the North Pacific resident and North Atlantic populations. The difference in frequencies could be related to ecological specialization or to the phylogenetic history of these populations. North Pacific transient killer whales may have genetically inherited predisposition toward lower frequencies that may shape their learned repertoires.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga A Filatova
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Patrick J O Miller
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Fife KY16 8LB, Scotland
| | - Harald Yurk
- JASCO Applied Sciences Ltd., 2305-4464 Markham Street, Victoria, British Columbia V8Z 7X8, Canada
| | | | - Erich Hoyt
- Whale and Dolphin Conservation, Park House, Allington Park, Bridport, Dorset DT6 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - John K B Ford
- Pacific Biological Station, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 3190 Hammond Bay Road, Nanaimo, British Columbia V9T 1K6, Canada
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49
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Variations in killer whale food-associated calls produced during different prey behavioural contexts. Behav Processes 2015; 116:33-42. [PMID: 25934134 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2015.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2015] [Revised: 03/23/2015] [Accepted: 04/26/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Killer whales produce herding calls to increase herring school density but previous studies suggested that these calls were made only when feeding upon spawning herring. Herring schools less densely when spawning compared to overwintering; therefore, producing herding calls may be advantageous only when feeding upon less dense spawning schools. To investigate if herding calls were produced across different prey behavioural contexts and whether structural variants occurred and correlated with prey behaviour, this study recorded killer whales when feeding upon spawning and overwintering herring. Herding calls were produced by whales feeding on both spawning and overwintering herring, however, calls recorded during overwintering had significantly different duration and peak frequency to those recorded during spawning. Calls recorded in herring overwintering grounds were more variable and sometimes included nonlinear phenomena. Thus, herding calls were not produced exclusively when feeding upon spawning herring, likely because the call increases feeding efficiency regardless of herring school density or behaviour. Variations in herding call structure were observed between prey behavioural contexts and did not appear to be adapted to prey characteristics. Herding call structural variants may be more likely a result of individual or group variation rather than a reflection of properties of the food source.
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50
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Boku S, Riquimaroux H, Simmons AM, Simmons JA. Auditory brainstem response of the Japanese house bat (Pipistrellus abramus). THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2015; 137:1063-1068. [PMID: 25786921 DOI: 10.1121/1.4908212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Auditory brainstem responses (ABR) to high frequencies encompassing the species' vocal repertoire were recorded from the inferior colliculus of the Japanese house bat, Pipistrellus abramus. Amplitudes of tone pips were systematically decreased to obtain a threshold of response at different tone frequencies. The compiled audiogram has a broad U-shape over the frequency range from 4 to 80 kHz, with low thresholds between 20 and 50 kHz. The most sensitive frequency region of 35-50 kHz occurs at the quasi-constant-frequency terminal portion of the bat's downsweeping frequency-modulated echolocation pulses. Good sensitivity extending down to 20 kHz includes the frequency range of the first harmonic of communication sounds. The ABR audiogram does not show distinct, narrow peaks of greater sensitivity at the dominant frequencies in species vocalizations. Latencies of peaks in ABR responses lengthened as stimuli were attenuated. At 40 kHz, response latencies traded with amplitude by -7 to -9 μs/dB, a value smaller than measured in another frequency-modulated bat using lower frequencies for echolocation. These results have implications for understanding the significance of amplitude-latency trading in a comparative context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shokei Boku
- Neurosensing and Bionavigation Research Center, Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, Kyotonabe 610-0321, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Riquimaroux
- Neurosensing and Bionavigation Research Center, Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, Kyotonabe 610-0321, Japan
| | - Andrea Megela Simmons
- Department of Cognitive, Linguistic and Psychological Sciences, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912
| | - James A Simmons
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912
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